ANGER erupted at the second meeting of Hambleton Flood Forum this week - because one of the main partners involved did not send a delegate.

People from the Stokesley, Great Ayton, Bagby and Potto areas were furious that Environment Agency reports on local flood defence work could not be presented on Monday.

Questions were asked after Hambleton Council's head of technical services David McGloin, said surveys were being done and residents would be consulted.

But he said there were no further details from the EA - despite an agenda flagging up reports.

Clifford Petch, from the Little Ayton parish meeting, said: "I am disappointed. It is a total waste of my time. This was on the agenda to be dealt with. It is despicable not to give us more information or tell us before we set off what was going to happen."

Mr McGloin said: "I was expecting an Environment Agency delegate and I will take this on board. I will write to ask why there is no-one here."

Coun Len Groves, who represents Great Ayton on Hambleton Council, said: "This is a cavalier attitude and makes it a waste of our time."

Forum chairman Coun John Morley agreed with Mr Petch.

"It is not good enough for some partners not to turn up," he said. "We were told only on Friday that no-one would be attending and a strong letter should be sent to the agency about this."

County Coun John Coulson said: "This is not the first time this has happened. We have to send a strong message out that if this forum is to work, all members must be on board and all members must be here. The Environment Agency is a main stakeholder in this. We are trying to solve this flooding problem and these people don't even bother to attend. It is disgraceful."

A spokesman for the Environment Agency said the message about Monday's meeting had been received last Friday but no-one was able to attend.

An e-mail was sent to Mr McGloin the same day explaining this. "Someone usually likes to attend these meetings if they can," said the spokesman.

l Meeting report, page 10